Camby always linked with Denver

It was a pleasure to reconnect this weekend with Marcus Camby, who cherished his time as the Denver center and as a Denverite.

“In pro ball, there are same trades you wish didn’t happen, and I think Marcus falls in that category,” said Nuggets coach George Karl, who was saddened to see his center traded last summer to the Clippers, in exchange for a draft pick and a trade exception.

Camby, who continues to work on his Denver-based foundation called Cambyland, said he keeps in close touch with many old teammates: “I keep in so much close contact with the guys, it’s almost like I’m still here. Any problem that goes on, like the stuff that happened with Melo, I think I was the first one who got called.”

Camby was furious and insulted when the trade happened, but as time healed his wounds, he said on Saturday, “I know it wasn’t for my play – it was for money issues.”

Second all-time in Nuggets blocks per game, Camby was “the pillar of our defense,” according to Karl. That defense, though, was somewhat susceptible. Looking back, Karl said, “We probably relied on his too much. We probably became suddenly too passive on the perimeter, thinking, ‘Well, Marcus will take care of it.’ Now we’ve made some adjustments and in some ways we’re a better defensive team. Marcus was the pillar of our defense, maybe to a fault, because I think we gave him too many defensive reads for protecting the basket.”

As for Camby’s legacy in the city of Denver, Karl said he’ll be remembered for “his character, leadership, ability to touch kids through education. I hear he’s probably going to live in Houston at the end of his career, but he’s one of the guys who might think about staying in Denver.”

Chris Dempsey arrived at The Denver Post in Dec. 2003 after seven years at the Boulder Daily Camera, where he primarily covered the University of Colorado football and men's basketball teams. A University of Colorado-Boulder alumnus, Dempsey covers the Nuggets and also chips in on college sports.